Roberto Mancini slams sack claims and insists he’s the best manager in England

Former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola was heavily linked to a role at the Etihad Stadium, and this was exacerbated with the arrival of Txiki Beguiristain and Ferran Soriano, who worked with the Spaniard at the Nou Camp.

But, even after the announcement of Guardiola's decision to take over at Bayern Munich next season, Mancini has still been dogged by claims that he will exit the club if their attempts to retain the Premier League title prove unsuccessful.

And he has insisted that getting the sack would be a ridiculous notion as, over the last season-and-a-half, he has been the best manager in England.

Mancini seethed: “Someone said for six months that Manchester City would change their manager and Guardiola would come in.

“After Guardiola went to Bayern Munich another manager [is being linked]. They don’t have a very good memory, because in the last 15 months I’m the best manager in England because I’ve one Premier League, one FA Cup and one Charity Shield.

“There is not another manager like me and I understand I can do nothing [about the rumours] but this is the reality.”